A research analyst with Canfax Research Services says keeping young calves at home for a couple of months before selling can have a positive effect.
Brenna Grant explains preconditioning the animal spreads stressors out over a longer period of time.
She says stressors such as transportation to auction markets and feed lots can often have a negative effect.
"Research has shown the preconditioning actually improves average daily gain, and lowers the cost of gain, as well as lowering treatment costs, as well as death losses," she said.
Grant notes the cost of feeding the calf while it's at home will often determine whether or not the practice is beneficial to the producer.
Source: SteinbachOnline